Control system



CONTROL SYSTEM 3 Shee'ts-Sheet 1 Original Filed June 29, 1945- t 51F200 mOkOE M m m m ANTHONY J, HORNFECK p 1954 A. HORNFECK CONTROL SYSTEM 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Original Filed June 29, 1945 $52 03 o mmsi O m w v N O 2925 u. WEE.

IN V EN TOR.

Sept. 14, 1954 A. J. HORNFECK 2,689,339

CONTROL SYSTEM Original Filed June 29, 1945 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 POWER F CONTROLLER I 25 AMPLIFIER EIQL FIG. 5

J INVENTOR.

ANTHONY J. HORNFECK ATTORN Patented Sept. 14, 1954 CONTROL SYSTEM Anthony .3. Hornfeck, Lyndhurst, Ohio, assignor to Bailey Meter Company, a corporation of Delaware Original application June 29, 1945, Serial No.

602,334. Divided and this application November 1, 1950, Serial No. 193,496

2 Claims. 1

The present invention relates to measuring and/or control systems, particularly of the electronic circuit type. A variable condition, quantity, position or other value which may be represented by an electrical resistance value may be continuously and instantaneously measured through the agency of the circuit to be described. The measurement so obtained may be used to effect a control of the same or of another variable which may or may not contribute to the magnitude or change in magnitude of the variable being measured.

Specifically, my present invention provides improvements in an electronic control circuit allowing the control standard to be set at more than one physical location without interfering with the measurement or control and allowing observation of the actual value of the variable as well as its relation to the desired standard value at more than one physical location.

I have chosen to illustrate and describe my invention in connection with three basic electronic measuring circuits representative only and not limited thereto. In general, I describe my invention in connection with a phase sensitive alternating current bridge network including a resistance thermometer. A second embodiment is in connection with a movable core transformer telemetering circuit. The third embodiment is in connection with a thermocouple type of temperature measuring instrument. I have chosen these as representative only and by way of example.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a measuring and control system in connection with a resistance thermometer.

Fig. 2 is a graph of circuit values for a voltage discrimination indicator.

Fig. 8 is a portion of a circuit applicable to the general arrangement of Figs. 1, 4 and 5.

Fi 4 is a measuring and control system applied to a telemetric flow meter. 7

Fig. 5 is a measuring and control circuit applied to a thermocouple temperature measurement.

All of the figures of the drawing are shown in quite diagrammatic or schematic manner. In

1 I have shown the amplifier and motor control circuit in detail. I have not felt is necessary to duplicate such detail in Figs. 4 and 5 and have therein indicated the amplifier and motor con-.

trol circuits merely as blocks. The showing of Fig. 3 is of push button and signal light means applicable to the general embodiments to allow the operator at either the instrument or at the remote station to assume control of the system and to indicate where such control is placed.

Referring now in particular to Fig. l, I indicate at I a phase sensitive alternating current bridge having fixed resistor arms 2, 3 and 4. The fourth arm 5 of the bridge I is a resistance element lo cated in an electric furnace E and sensitive to the temperature thereof. For balancing the network I provide an adjustable resistance i inserted between the arms 3 and 4 and provided with a movable contact arm 8 for proportioning the resistance 7 between the arms 3 and 4.

For positioning the contact arm 8 I provide a motor 9 which also positions an indicator i0 relative to a scale H and relative to a revoluble chart I2, thereby providing an instantaneous indication as well as a continuous record of the value of temperature to which the resistance arm 5 is sensitive.

The electric furnace t is preferably heated by electric resistance elements l3 receiving current from an alternating current source H! which also provides alternating current supply to the bridge 1 through a transformer l5.

Preferably the bridge arm 5 is a platinum resistance measuring element. The conjugate corners of the bridge I are connected to an amplifier l5 and motor control ll for the motor 9. For an understanding of a phase sensitive alternating current bridge for measuring the resistance of the leg 5 subjected to temperature of the furnace 6 reference may be had to the Ryder Patents 2,275,317 and 2,333,393.- The conjugate voltage supplied to the amplifier l6 assumes a balance or unbalance and a phase relation relative to the supply voltage dependent upon the magnitude and sense of the unbalanced condition of the bridge. The amplifier l6 selectively controls motor tubes l8, iii. The tubes I8, 153 control the amount and direction of unbalance of saturable core reactors 2i 2! for directional and speed control of a capacitor-run motor 9 adapted to position the arms 8, Hi.

The motor 9 is of an alternating current type having windings 22 and 23 ninety electrical degrees apart and also having a capacitor 24. When alternating current flows directly through one of the windings and simultaneously through the other winding in series with the capacitor the motor rotates in predetermined direction and at a speed determined by the extent of unbalance of the saturable core reactors 2t, 26. It is not necessary to go into greater detail as to the construction and operation of the amplifier l6 and the motor control circuit IT, as reference may be had to the above mentioned Ryder patents.

In my present invention, in addition to providing an instantaneous indication and a continuous record of the value of temperature to which the arm 5 is subjected, I provide an electrical control of the heat input of the resistor l3 to an electric furnace 6. I have shown in this connection a power controller 25 which forms no part of the present invention. This may be a General Electric Reactrol or any other adaptable power controller for the resistor I3. My invention applies to the power controller 25 the establishment of an electrical value 80 bearing a desired relation to the temperature to which the arm 5 is subjected, or to the deviation in such temperature from a standard or desired value.

The motor 9, positioning the contact arm 8, simultaneously positions a contact arm 26 over a slide wire 21. At 28 I indicate a contact arm adapted to be manually positioned along a slide wire 29 for establishing the temperature standard to which the control works, i. e. the tem perature value which is desirably maintained at the arm 5.

The parts 26, 21, 28 and 29 are included in a phase discriminatory circuit, including the joining conductors 30, 3|. This circuit is supplied with alternating current power through a transformer 32 connected across the source I4. The contact arm 26 is positioned relative the slide wire 21 by the motor 9 representative of actual temperature to which the resistance arm 5 is sensitive. The contact arm 28 is positioned relative the slide wire 29 manually to a point representing the desired temperature. The phase discriminatory circuit including these elements then establishes a signal 60 across the terminals 32, 33 and 34, 35 of reversible phase and having a magnitude proportional to the unbalance of the control circuit.

The operation is as follows. If temperature within the furnace 6 deviates from the desired value, then the resistance of the bridge arm 5 changes, causing an unbalance of the bridge 1 in one direction or the other dependent upon whether the actual temperature is above or below the desired temperature. The phase and magnitude of the A.-C. output of the bridge I follows the sense and amount of unbalance of the bridge and is applied to the amplifier I6 for control of the motor 9. The motor 9 rotates in predetermined direction and amount determined by the phase and amount of unbalance of the bridge I and positions the contact 8 along the slide wire I in proper direction to rebalance the bridge. The amount of movement of the contact 8 over the slide wire 'I to bring about such a rebalancing is representative of the deviation of the actual temperature from the desired temperature, and therefore the indicator In con tinuously shows on the index II and chart 12 the actual temperature of the furnace.

At the same time the motor 9 has positioned the contact 26 along the slide wire 21 in consonance with the departure of the temperature from the desired temperature. With such movement of the contact arm 26 the phase discrim inatory circuit including the elements 26, 21, 28, 29, 30 and 3| becomes unbalanced and an electrical value is established across the terminals 32, 33 representative of the direction and extent of such unbalance. Such signal is simultaneously effective at the terminals 34, 35 controlling the power input to the resistor I3 in proper amount and direction to return the temperature of the furnace to the desired standard.

As the temperature (due to a change in heating of the resistor I3) returns toward desired value the consequent temperature change at the resistor 5 unbalances the bridge I and causes the motor 9 to position the contacts 8 and 26 in proper direction and amount until the bridge I and the control bridge are again balanced. It is appreciated, of course, that this action may be more or less continuous, i. e. before the temperature returns completely to its desired standard there may be other influences acting upon the furnace to prevent or to accelerate the return of the temperature to the desired value. In other words, the measuring circuit is continually indicating the instantaneous temperature of the furnace and the control circuit is continuously regulating the power controller 25 to maintain the temperature at the desired value or standard.

It is customary for an instrument, such as a recorder-controller, to contain the elements of the bridge I (except the resistance 5), the amplifier, the motor control, the motor 9, the recording measuring elements, and the control bridge. The slide 26 is positioned by the motor 9 relative to the slide wire 21 simultaneously with a positioning of the elements 8 and I0. In other words all elements of Fig. 1 above the power lines I4. The hand adjusted slide 28 is usually provided with a knob and given ready access to the operator at the measuring controlling instrument. Such instrument may be located adjacent the furnace B.

It is frequently desired to have means provided at another or remote station wherein the control standard may be there adjusted and with provision for indicating at such remote location whether or not the temperature is being controlled to the desired standard value. At 36 I show by dotted enclosure such a remote station including a second standard setter comprising a manually positionable contact arm 31 along a slide wire 38 and having a scale 39 to show what temperature standard the elements 31, 38 are adjusted to. The slide wire 38 is connected across the conductors 30, 3| in parallel with the slide wire 29.

As shown in Fig. 1 .a two-position switch 40 allows the control terminal 34 to be selectively connected with either the contact 28 or the contact 31. As shown, it is connected to the contact 28 and therefore the phase discriminatory circuit includes the elements 28, 29 and does not include the element 31. If, at the remote location 36 the operator desires to change the temperature standard to which the power controller 25 operates he would move the arm of the switch 40 to the alternate position connecting the terminal 34 with the contact 31 and while doing this would hold depressed the push button 4| to open the circuit to the power controller momentarily while the switch-over is made.

If the power controller 25 draws current from the control bridge, the output or unbalance volt age will be reduced. Under this condition the deflection of the deviation indicator will not be an accurate function of temperature deviation from the control setting. If a more accurate reading is desired the controller can be momentarily disconnected by depressing the push button 4 I. Thereafter the operator might turn the knob of contact 31 until the index 39 showed the new temperature standard he desires to maintain in the furnace and so long as the switch 40 con- 'ouit.

Under the conditions just described where control of the standard is at the remote station, there is available at the measuring instrument a continuous. indication of the actual temperature (10, ll, 12), but no indication as to what standard is being used for the control because the elements 28. 28 are not in circuit. At the remote location the position of the switch 43. shows that the remote standard is being used and the position of the arm 31- relative to the scale to shows the value. of the standard. I will now describe means within the remote station 36 for showin at that location a deviation of temperature from the standard value and thereby, in conjunction with the scale 39, an indication of the actual temperature of the furnace. Such means is a cathode follower circuit 4,! unique in that I use alternating current on the plates. Such circuit includes a zero center scale direct current voltmeter 52 under the control of tubes 43, 44. The variable resistance 55 provides a zero adjustment for the voltmeter'dZ, while the switch arm as allows a selective change in range of the voltmeter.

The cathode follower circuit 4'? is connected in parallel across the terminals 34, 35' and is thus sensitive to the phase and magnitude of the signal applied to the power controller 25. If the signal eu, is of plus phase alternating current voltage the needle of the voltmeter 42 will swing to one side of its center zero. If the signal is of minus phase the needle will swing to a position the other side of its center zero. The amount of such swing away from zero is determined by the magnitude of the signal en and in conjunction with the range of the voltmeter 42 then in use as determined by the position of the arm 46 selectively between several possible ranges.

In Fig. 2 I show an actual calibration curve of such a zero center scale direct current volt.- mcter and it will be observed that the motion is substantially linear throughout a major portion of the deviation each way from center zero. It will also be noted that the circuit 41 provides an amplification of approximately two in that the 11-6. volt output: applied to the instrument 42 is approximately twice the value of 8c in alternatin current. voltages It will" be observed that the circuit ll and instrument 43 are effectively in circuit irrespectivc as to whether the elements 28., 29 or the r;

elements at, 38 are in use (connected in circuit) as a desired standard setting.

Referring now to Fig. 3, I show therein devices and circuits which may be superimposed upon the arrangement of Fig. 1 if desired. Inasmuch as this circuit and device are applicable to the arrangements of Figs. 1, 4 and 5 I have shown it as a separate figure which may be superimposed upon any one of the other three mentioned.

At the instrument location I show instantaneous push buttons IA and RA as well as indicating lights I and R. At the remote station St I show instantaneous push buttons IB and RB as well as signal lights I and R. Interconnecting the push buttons and signal, lights. is a relay 48 having a solenoid winding 49. In Fig. 3 the relay 48 is shown in deenergized position corresponding to a use of the standard setter 28, 29 in the instrument location. By following the circuit through it will be seen that lights I (representing instrument location) are energized, that contact 28 is connected to terminal 33 and contact 31 is not so connected. Thus at both the instrument location and at the remote station the signal lights (I) indicate that control is at the instrument location under standard setter 28, 29 and the discrimination voltmeter 42 shows, at the remote station 36, the departure, if any, of temperature in one direction or the other from the standard.

If it is desired to make the standard setting for control available at the remote station by disconnecting contact 28 and connecting in the contact a? slide wire 38, then the instantaneous push button BA or the push button RE is momentarily depressed, thus energizing the coil to which is thereafter locked in through the push buttons IA and IB. The signal lights (I) out and the signal lights R are lighted, denotthat control is at the remote station. Thereafter control may be returned to the instrument by momentarily depressing either IA or IE which breaks the lock on cell as allowing it to become deenergized to the condition as shown in Fig. 3.

Thus I provide at either the instrument 1ocation or. at the remote station signal lights which will show whether the control is under the standard control of elements 28, 29 or of elements 33 while the deviation indicator 42 indicates at the remote location whether or not the desired standard (manually adjusted by 37, 33) is being attained.

In Fig. 4 I show an adaptation of my invention to a telemetering circuit including a movable core transformer. Such a circuit is disclosed and claimed in my copending application Serial No. 569A79, now Patent 2,439,891, to which reference may be had. I illustrate the measuring of the rate of flow of a fluid through a conduit til by a flow meter 5i sensitive to pressure difierentials existing across an orifice 52 inserted in the pipe line The flow meter 5| is of a conventional U- tube type, the mercury level in one leg adapted to vertically position a core 53 relative to fixed windings t l, 55 and 56. Winding 54 is continuously energized across an alternating current source. Windings 55 and 56 are secondary windings receiving alternating current inductively from the primary 5d and the whole comprising a movable core transformer.

The secondary windings 55, 5B are in loop cirouit with fixed resistances A and B of a receiver at having a slide wire 58 over which is positioned a movable contact 59 by a motor 69. Unbalanoe of the circuit, due to. a movement of the core 53, is effective upon the amplifier Hiand motor control ll for operating the motor 66 in proper direc tion and amount to move the contact 59 along the slide wire fill and rebalance the circuit. The receiver 5? for indicating and/or recording, 1. e. measuring the rate of fluid flow or difierential pressure, be located adjacent the meter ill or remote therefrom.

In Fig. l I adapt such a telemetering circuit to the control of the. same or another variable from the continuous measurement of fluid flow through the orifice 52.. In other words, the control irnpulse or signal of reversing phase and voltage magnitude may be used in a control of the rate of fluid flow through the conduit 5% or may be used in the control of some other variable in the or another process.

The network conductors 6| 62 and 63 are connected to terminals 54, 65' and 66 respectively of a control circuit including resistors C and D and slidewire 61. Thus the circuit elements C, D and 61 parallel the elements A, B and 58 across the windings 55, 56. The contact 68 is manually positioned along the slide wire 61 relative the scale 69 to establish the standard or value to which the control is to Work. The signal value so between the terminal 65 and the contact 68 is then effective at the terminals 34, 35 of a power controller for controlling any variable as desired.

At the same time the signal value 60 is effective at terminals 10, II entering the cathode follower circuit 41 for the center zero scale D.-C. voltmeter 42, otherwise designated as VI. Here, as previously described, the voltmeter t2 shows direction and amount of deviation of the actual rate of fluid flow as compared to the control standard established by the contact 58 along the slide wire 67. If desired additional voltmeters V2, V3, V4 may be connected across the terminals of the voltmeter VI and located at different locations. With a low energy circuit it may require further amplification ahead of the phase discriminatory circuit as indicated by the box 12. Terminals l3, 74 indicate the possibility of utilizing the signal so for other power controllers or other phase discriminatory circuits. Likewise the terminals I5, 16 may be used following amplification 12.

In Fig. 5 I illustrate an adaptation of my invention to a thermocouple potentiometer circuit, such as is in general disclosed in my copending application Serial No. 544,586, now Patent 2,447,338. Located within the furnace 6 is a thermocouple l'l forming a part of a potentiometer circuit hav ing a balancing slide wire 18 and contact 79, the

latter positionable by the motor 9. The low level direct current signal in sense and magnitude determined by unbalance of the measuring circuit is applied to an alternating current bridge 80 having sa-turable core reactors BI, 82 converting the low level D.-C. into reversible phase alternating current signals capable of unbalancing the bridge 80 in one direction or the other when temperature to which the thermocouple 17 is sensitive departs from standard value.

The phase bridge 80 has its output connected to the amplifier l5 and motor control I! for control of the motor 9 in predetermined direction and speed for positioning the contact 19 along the slide wire 78 to rebalance the measuring circuit. Simultaneously the motor 9 positions the contact 26 relative to the slide Wire 21 of the circuit as previously described for establishing a control signal co efiective at the terminals 34, of the power controller 25 controlling the heating of the resistor elements l3 of the furnace 6.

It will thus be apparent that my invention is applicable to various types of measuring and controlling networks, of which I have described resistance thermometer, telemetering, and thermocouple circuits as by way of example. Other adaptations and advantages of the invention will evident to those skilled in the art. 7

This application is a division of my copending application S. N. 602,334, filed June 29, 1945, now i atent 2,557,224.

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is:

1. A control system including in combination, a balanceable network having an element responsive to a variable, an A.-C. bridge having a manually adjustable resistance and a resistance controlled by the balancing means of the network,

a pair of triodes having parallel grid-cathode circuits to which the potential output of the A.-C. bridge is applied, a transformer having an a1ternating current excited primary and a center tapped secondary with its end terminals connected to the anodes of the pair of triodes, a first fixed resistance in series with an adjustable resistance and a second fixed resistance connected between the cathodes, the adjustment arm of the adjustable resistance connected to the center tap of said secondary winding of the transformer, a zero-center D.-C. voltmeter connected between said cathodes and said fixed resistances, and a condenser between each terminal of the meter and the secondary center tap, means in the grid circuit of the pair of triodes to change the range of response of the D.-C. voltmeter, the meter indicating the direction and amount of deviation between the variable being measured and the setting of the manually adjustable resistance, and means responsive to the A.-C. bridge output for varying the condition to which the balanceable network is responsive.

2. Means for providing a control voltage of variable phase potential including in combination, a transformer having an alternating current energized primary, a center tapped secondary and a core movable under the influence of a variable to favor induction to one or the other section of said secondary, a resistor shunting said secondary and having a first movable contact connected to the tap on said secondary, means responsive to the unbalance and phase of current in the secondary tap connection to position said contact for balancing the currents in the two parts of the secondary, a second resistor shunting said secondary and having a second movable contact adapted for manual setting to establish a standard for the control voltage, a pair of triodes having parallel grid-cathode circuits to which the control potential is applied for measurement, a transformer having an alternating current excited primary and a center tapped secondary with its end terminals connected to the anodes of the pair of triodes, a first fixed resistance in series with the adjustable resistance and a second fixed resistance connected between the cathodes, the adjustment arm of the adjustable resistance connected to the center tap of the said secondary Winding of the transformer, a zero center D.-C. voltmeter connected between said cathodes and the fixed resistances, and a condenser between each terminal of the meter and the secondary center tap, the meter to indi cate the direction and amount of deviation between the first and second contacts as the control voltage.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 877,312 Evershed Jan. 21, 1908 2,267,184 Bagno Dec. 23, 1941 2,320,175 Dennis et a1 May 25, 1943 2,437,603 Hornfeck Mar. 9, 1948 2,557,224 Hornfeck June 19, 1951 2,589,721 McNaney Mar. 18, 1952 OTHER REFERENCES A Continuous-Control Servo system, by Joseph T. McNaney, Electronics, December 1944, pages 118-125. 

